I'm moderately proud of my writing abilities, my skills as an "essayist" (as Kevin calls me). But every now and then, I find someone who is so much better at it than I am that I wonder why I ever thought I'd be any good at this gig.
Bill Whittle is one of those people. His ability to craft an essay leaves me in awe. He will give long, detailed vignettes, two and three and four at a time, that seemingly have nothing to do with each other -- and then tie them all together into a single, unifying theme. I almost never see the theme coming despite his generously giving it to us in the title.
My sole consolation is that Bill Whittle is slow. I know that "deliberative" or "thoughtful" or "contemplative" would be fairer words, but I don't feel like being fair. I, like so many others, sometimes resent those above me, and in my desire to beat them, try to drag them down rather than to elevate myself. So yeah, I say he's slow. He's ponderous. He's glacial.
But I also say that with a tinge of gratitude. I know that sometimes quantity has a quality of its own. I know that on almost any given day, I have something newer, fresher, than he does.
Today ain't one of those days.
Go, read, and be enlightened. I'll be off in the corner by myself, drinking and muttering vague threats.
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Noted Elsewhere
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Comments (8)
Just read it -right on the ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by jhow66 | September 5, 2005 1:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Just read it -right on the money!
1. Posted by jhow66 | September 5, 2005 1:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 13:25
2. Posted by a4g | September 5, 2005 2:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Why do I blog for "fun," when all I end up doing is swearing and cursing at the better work of others?
Yes, we are a strange lot, J.
2. Posted by a4g | September 5, 2005 2:32 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 14:32
3. Posted by a4g | September 5, 2005 3:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Okay, I just finished reading it, too. Now I remember why I blog for "fun."
Everytime I hit "post", I hope to touch something as brilliant as that. That's something to shoot for.
3. Posted by a4g | September 5, 2005 3:00 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 15:00
4. Posted by Moon Monkey | September 5, 2005 3:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Just read it. Thanks J for the heads up on this one...like the posts above me, I am humbled. I'm not sure where I could begin commentary on Bill's piece,save to say that I feel so very happy and proud that he's on our team.
4. Posted by Moon Monkey | September 5, 2005 3:35 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 15:35
5. Posted by Dean | September 5, 2005 4:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This was a wonderful post.. thanks for passing this along.
5. Posted by Dean | September 5, 2005 4:24 PM |
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Posted on September 5, 2005 16:24
6. Posted by SilverBubble | September 5, 2005 5:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Thanks, Jay Tea. Now I have one more thing to suck precious hours out of my life because it's too damn good to stop reading. I appreciate it.
6. Posted by SilverBubble | September 5, 2005 5:06 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 17:06
7. Posted by Tony B | September 5, 2005 11:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I've just hoisted a big tumbler full of whiskey in your direction, said thanks for pointing this out.... then went back to my own sullen muttering.
7. Posted by Tony B | September 5, 2005 11:04 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 5, 2005 23:04
8. Posted by jumbo | September 6, 2005 2:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bill Whittle's "Tribes" is brilliant, and gives voice, form and frame to the sloppy mishmash of unconnected ideas and opinions on modern American culture that most of us have. It is no less than the "Cultural Grand Unified Theory", in that it does no less than explain, in simple terms and concepts, what the cultural differences are in this country, why they exist, what type of people tend to which attitudes and why, and ultimately what the results tgo the nation are from those differecnes.
I kid you not, it is breathtakingly brilliant. And so good that Whittle may have made a permanent name for himself among persons who see and care about the culture wars.
8. Posted by jumbo | September 6, 2005 2:55 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 6, 2005 14:55